Episode 16: Into the Mouth of Hell

The BRONZE 2 was full of people and loud music. A band was playing on the stage with way too much base and too little talent. Waitresses were passing out drinks and a few young men behind one counter were cooking hamburgers on a long grill. Fray pulled off her apron and threw it onto the table. She smiled at the others sitting around. "You look happy," Dawn commented, taking a sip of her drink. "Would that smirk have anything to do with the fact that you didn't come home last night?"

Fray's smile deepened. "Not really," she said. "It has to do with the fact that the tips rocked tonight but now that you mention it."

Fray blushed and took a sip of her own drink. Kennedy laughed and Willow smiled brightly. "Someone got some action," Willow said.

Fray cleared her throat. "Alright," she said quickly, "new topic of conversation."

Dawn laughed and shook her head. "No way in hell you're getting out of giving us the details."

Fray was about to say something when a hand touched her shoulder. She smiled as she turned around and looked up into Hunter's pale blue eyes. He smiled at the others and Fray though she saw him blush when Kennedy flashed him a knowing smile. He just laughed and leaned nearer to Fray's ear. "What have you been telling them?" he whispered.

Fray smiled and turned towards him. "Nothing but the truth."

Hunter sighed. "That's what I was afraid of."

Fray playfully punched him in the shoulder. Hunter grabbed her wrist and pulled her out towards the dance floor. Kennedy, Willow, and Dawn watched them go. Buffy sat down just a few seconds later. She saw the others watching Fray and Hunter and she smiled. "So," she said. "What do you think actually happened last night?"

"Well," Kennedy said. "She was alone in an apartment with an exceptionally handsome and extremely fit young man after a few moments of unbridled passion. While that scenario does nothing for me, I'm willing to bet that she had some fun."

Willow smiled and shook her head. Kennedy leaned towards her. "Don't be jealous," she whispered.

Willow blushed and started to say something. Kennedy placed a finger on her lips and took her hand. They walked together towards the dance floor. "Awww," Buffy said, tilting her head and looking at the two couples. "To be young and in love."

Dawn snorted. "If only I knew," she said.

"What," Buffy asked, turning back to her sister. "No boy toys?"

"Not unless you count Andrew; the human puppy dog."

"And why aren't you counting Andrew?"

"Because in the middle of a make out session he'd probably compare the location and the situation to one of his favorite sci-fi television episodes. That's not my idea of a good time."

Buffy laughed. "So," she said after a few seconds. "What are the plans for tomorrow night?"

Dawn sighed and looked at her sister. "Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, we can do it without you."

Buffy shot a withering look at her sister and Dawn shrugged. "Alright," she said. "We're meeting at the Coven at seven tomorrow evening. Then Hunter's going to drive us to the crater. We'll repel into the basin and then make our way to the Hellmouth. Hunter says that there's a clear entrance to it, the one that was in the school. We have about a dozen slayers going, not counting the core group."

"Which includes?"

"Me, Fray, Hunter, Faith, Willow, Kennedy, Wood, Xander, and, it seems, you." Buffy nodded in agreement. "Alright then," she said. "I'll see you then, and tell Fray that she can come home tonight. I'll be at the Coven with Giles all night. He's giving me some more training tips since I've been sitting on my ass since I got to London."

Dawn smiled and watched her sister go. Fray walked over a few minutes later and sat down. "Where's lover boy?" Dawn asked.

Fray motioned towards the bar. "Drinks," she said.

"So," Dawn said, leaning forward on the table. "What happened last night?"

Fray smiled. "We went back to his place and basically made out for three or four hours before falling asleep in each others arms. It's not the scandal that you want it to be, yet."

"Ahhh," Dawn said. "You added a yet to there, which means you want something to happen."

Fray laughed. "And I'd be lying if I said I didn't."

Dawn smiled back and nodded. "I'm sure it will," she said. "I can see that he really cares about you."

Fray smiled. "Yeah, well the feeling's mutual."

Dawn and Fray continued to talk until Hunter came over and sat down with another round of drinks for everyone. "We leave tomorrow," Dawn said, "at seven. Be at the Coven."

Fray nodded and looked down at her drink. She took a sip and then looked back over at Dawn. The other girl was watching her closely. "Do you think you'll find whatever's there?"

"I have to," Fray said. "I can feel that this is my last chance."

Dawn nodded and checked her watch. "It's getting late," she said. "I should probably go on back to the Coven. Buffy's staying there for the night so you're free to go on back to Willow and Kennedy's."

"Alright," Fray said, "thanks."

She waved to Dawn as she walked away. Hunter and Fray sat for a while, talking, and then moved back out onto the dance floor. Kennedy and Willow were still there. "So," Willow said, leaning over towards Fray. "Are you coming home tonight? I heard that Buffy is staying at the Coven."

"Yeah," Fray said. "I probably will if I want to get any sleep tonight."

Willow laughed and went back over to Kennedy. The Slayer laughed too as Willow told her about the conversation. Hunter wrapped his arms around Fray's waist. "So," he said. "You're leaving me alone tonight?"

Fray smiled. "You can come over if you want. I'm sure that Willow and Kennedy won't mind."

"I don't want to keep them awake," Hunter said.

Fray laughed and buried her head into his shoulder. "Don't worry," she whispered. "We'll be quiet."

Fray, Hunter, Willow, and Kennedy arrived at the apartment just a few hours later. A letter from Buffy about her plans to stay the night at the Coven was sitting on the kitchen table. Willow picked it up and read. "She said she'll meet us tomorrow night to go to the Hellmouth."

Kennedy sat down on the sofa and looked up at her girlfriend. "Are you sure she's ready?" Kennedy asked. "I mean I know what I went through down there. Multiply that by ten and you get what Buffy felt."

Willow nodded and sat down beside her. "If Buffy says that she is then we have to trust her."

"I thought you said she wasn't very bright," Kennedy joked.

Willow glanced at her. "I was having a tense moment," Willow said. "Fate of the world resting on my shoulders and all that."

Kennedy laughed slightly and took Willow's hand. "We'd better get to bed. It's probably going to be a long night tomorrow."

Fray nodded in agreement. Willow allowed herself to be led into the bedroom. Fray stayed outside and ran a hand through her hair. "I wish we didn't have to get them involved," Fray said. "I don't want to put any of my friends in a situation where they'd feel uncomfortable."

Hunter shook his head and sat down next to her. Fray leaned her head on his shoulder. "I've told you before; they're doing this because they want to. You didn't drag them into your problems. They're going to that crater and into the Hellmouth tomorrow because they want to help you."

Fray smiled. "Maybe they're trying to get rid of me."

"No one who knew you would want to get rid of you."

Fray tilted her head up and allowed Hunter's lips to touch hers.

Hanging from the edge of the roof, a pair of eyes looked into the living room through the kitchen window. His sensitive ears had picked up the conversation. His master would be happy; he knew the location of the Fader and her Shielder. They could set an ambush at the Hellmouth. A mouth curved in a smile moving the thin black mask that covered the face.

Hunter drove his car away from the lights of New Sunnydale and onto the highway that had once run through Old Sunnydale. It now led to a crater, a giant hole in the middle of a desert surrounded by nothing more than memories. Two white vans followed him out of the city. Robin was driving one, Xander was driving the other. Willow and Kennedy sat in the back of Hunter's car and Fray sat beside him. The car's headlights cut through the darkness but not very far. There was no moon in the sky and Fray felt a shiver run down her spine. Something didn't feel right but she couldn't place it. Fray shook her head to push her feelings away. Hunter glanced over at her. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Fray smiled over at him and nodded. "I'm fine; I just didn't sleep well last night."

"Nightmare," Hunter said; a statement more than a question.

"How did you know?"

"I heard you thrashing about in your sleep and yelling at something. Do you remember what it was?"

"I was bound," Fray said, looking out the window. "There was nothing around me but darkness. Through it though, all these voices were yelling at me, telling me that my time was almost up, that my last chance was coming."

Hunter nodded. "Anxiety," he said. "You're nervous about coming back here because you know what it's going to mean."

Kenney leaned forward slightly. "What exactly does it mean?" she asked.

Fray turned around and looked at her. "It means that I'm going to have to go back."

Kennedy grunted and leaned back against the seat. Fray turned around and looked back out the window. The car was silent for a few more minutes until Hunter started to slow down. "We're here," he said, pulling the car off the road.

The two vans followed. Fray opened her door and stepped out into the cool night air. All the rest of the group was wearing light jackets; some even had hats pulled around their ears. Fray had chosen a gray t-shirt. She didn't even feel the cold touch her.

Fray walked to the back of one of the vans and helped Faith and Buffy pull coils of rope out of it. The quickly tied the rope to a few scraggly trees that they found near the crater and allowed the ends to fall into the basin below. Hunter stood near the edge and shined a large flashlight inside. "It looks safe," he said. "Watch your footing if you're on the far right rope. It looks like you're landing might not be too soft."

Fray attached a long knife to her belt and took a deep breath. She felt a wave of cool air wash over her body. When she moved her hands again, a small layer of ice broke and scattered to the ground. Finally she pulled a flashlight out of Hunter's trunk and glanced at the crowd that stood around her.

They had chosen five Slayers to tag along, including Rona and Vi. The other three were unknown to Fray but Kennedy and Faith had agreed that they would be the best choice. "Alright," Fray said, looking at the others. "Let's get down there."

Fray walked over to the edge of the crater, put her flashlight in her pocket, and took hold of the rope. There was a slight skittering noise as a few pieces of gravel fell to the floor below. Fray took another deep breath and began to slide down the rope.